Industry News

Global investment platform eToro has announced its expansion into Singapore after receiving a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). This development marks a significant milestone for eToro, allowing eligible retail investors in Singapore to access a wide range of financial instruments on its social investing platform.

Yoni Assia, eToro’s Co-Founder and CEO, highlighted the importance of this move, stating, “Singapore is one of the most dynamic financial markets in Asia-Pacific and a gateway to global capital flows.” The CMS licence enables eToro to offer stocks from over 20 leading stock exchanges, exchange-traded funds, and derivatives to Singaporean investors.

The expansion is further bolstered by the appointment of Yaki Razmovich as Managing Director of eToro Singapore and Asia. Razmovich expressed enthusiasm about the company’s growth in the region, saying, “We are excited to be part of this dynamic market and to contribute to its growth by providing investors in Singapore with access to a wide range of financial instruments.”

eToro’s platform allows users to view other investors’ portfolios, interact with them, and practise trading using a Virtual Portfolio. The company also offers extensive educational resources through the eToro Academy.

This strategic expansion into Singapore is part of eToro’s broader mission to connect investors globally and provide them with the tools to enhance their financial knowledge and wealth. As eToro continues to grow its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, it aims to invest in local talent and partnerships, further embedding itself within Singapore’s fintech ecosystem.
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Seatrium Limited has announced the delivery of its first turnkey Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), the PETROBRAS 78 (P-78), to Brazil’s national oil company, Petrobras. The vessel, which recently set sail from Seatrium’s Singapore yard, will be deployed in Brazil’s Buzios field, the largest deepwater oil field globally. The P-78 boasts a production capacity of 180,000 barrels of oil per day, 7.2 million cubic metres of gas per day, and a storage capacity of 2 million barrels of oil.

The P-78 is part of Seatrium’s One Seatrium Global Delivery Model, which involves collaboration with industry leaders across its shipyards in Singapore, China, and Brazil. The vessel’s topside modules, weighing 54,000 tonnes, were fabricated globally, with integration and commissioning completed in Singapore. Upon reaching the Buzios field, Seatrium will conduct the final offshore commissioning.

Chris Ong, CEO of Seatrium, expressed pride in delivering the first of a series of FPSOs to Petrobras, highlighting the company’s commitment to supporting Petrobras in reducing carbon emissions. Renata Baruzzi, Executive Officer for Engineering, Technology and Innovation at Petrobras, described the P-78 as a testament to Petrobras’ legacy in FPSO construction and operation.

The P-78 project is expected to significantly contribute to Brazil’s oil and gas sector by increasing national oil production and creating thousands of local jobs. The project also emphasises local content development and workforce training, enhancing long-term skills in Brazilian shipyards.
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Singapore’s investment market has shown resilience in the face of global uncertainties, with a significant rebound in Q2 2025. According to a report by Colliers, investment sales increased by 14.7% quarter-on-quarter, reaching $5.6b ($7.6b). This growth was primarily driven by large portfolio transactions, commercial deals, and the privatisation of Paragon REIT.

Government Land Sales (GLS) played a notable role, contributing $1.2b ($1.6b), or 21.2% of the total investment volume. Excluding GLS, the industrial sector led the activity with 26%, followed closely by retail and mixed-use sectors, each accounting for 23%.

Steven Tan, Executive Director and Co-Head of Investment Services at Colliers, noted, “Singapore’s real estate market remains resilient, with stable prices and rents. The outlook for 2025 remains positive, albeit with a more selective and strategic approach from both developers and investors.”

Colliers forecasts that full-year 2025 investment sales will reach between $21.4b and $23.6b ($29b and $32b), marking a 10–20% increase year-on-year. Catherine He, Head of Research at Colliers, highlighted that liquidity is a key priority for both buyers and sellers, with a focus on assets offering income resilience and lower exposure to external shocks.

The report underscores continued investor confidence in Singapore’s real estate market, despite global headwinds. Looking ahead, investors are expected to focus on core, core-plus, and value-add strategies, particularly where temporary market dislocations present pricing advantages.

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In June 2025, developers launched two notable projects, Amber House and Arina East Residences, marking the first time since 2023 that new projects have been introduced during the June school holidays. This move resulted in the launch of 187 units, a significant 835% increase from May 2025 and 58.5% higher than the same period last year. Despite a 12.8% month-on-month decline, developers sold 272 units, which is 19.3% higher than June 2024, according to Huttons Asia CEO, Mark Yip.

Amber House is the first project in the Amber area since 2019, whilst Arina East Residences is the first in Tanjong Rhu in 12 years. The Rest of Central Region (RCR) accounted for nearly 70% of sales, with the Outside Central Region (OCR) contributing around a quarter. Notably, Bloomsbury Residences and One Marina Gardens remained the top-selling projects for the third consecutive month.

Singaporeans dominated the buyer demographic, making up 85.3% of purchases, with permanent residents (PRs) accounting for 13.2%. High-value transactions included a $30.87 million unit at Skywaters Residences, purchased by a PR, and two $15 million units at 32 Gilstead, one acquired by a China PR.

Looking ahead, the market anticipates strong interest in upcoming projects, with 10 developments, including an executive condominium (EC), slated for launch in July and August 2025. These launches are expected to drive sales between 600 and 700 units in July, with annual sales projected to reach between 7,500 and 8,500 units. Prices are forecasted to rise by 4% to 7% in 2025.
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Singaporeans looking to invest in international residential properties can explore a wealth of opportunities at the Global Property Expo, organised by JLL. The event will take place from 18 to 20 July 2025 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, offering free entry to attendees. This premier exhibition will feature over 30 exhibitors and expert advisers, providing a comprehensive platform for those considering property purchases abroad.

The Expo promises a global showcase, with properties from over 20 countries, including destinations such as Bali, Lisbon, Dubai, and Tokyo. Notably, DAMAC Properties will present a selection of its signature waterfront developments. The event also marks the Asian debut of ThirdHome, introducing a novel investment model for property ownership.

Attendees can benefit from a series of talks, including a keynote address by Adam Challis from JLL, focusing on market foresight. The Expo will also cover how technology is transforming property ownership through tokenised buying and membership models. A livestreamed panel on 20 July will provide a practical checklist for prospective buyers, covering due diligence, financing, and legal considerations.

The Expo offers direct engagement with developers, legal advisers, and mortgage experts. Additionally, immigration specialists will discuss residency options linked to property purchases, making this event a must-attend for Singaporeans interested in international real estate investments.
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Standard Chartered has announced the launch of a fully integrated digital assets trading service for institutional clients, marking a significant milestone in the financial services industry. The service, available through the bank’s UK branch, includes spot trading for Bitcoin (XBT/USD) and Ether (XET/USD) and will soon expand to include non-deliverable forwards (NDFs). This makes Standard Chartered the first global systemically important bank to offer deliverable spot cryptoasset trading to corporates, investors, and asset managers.

The new trading service is seamlessly integrated with Standard Chartered’s existing platforms, allowing institutional clients to trade cryptoassets through familiar foreign exchange interfaces. Clients can choose their preferred custodian, including Standard Chartered’s own secure digital assets custody solutions. As a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)-registered cryptoasset service provider, the bank ensures a regulated and secure trading environment, supported by its robust balance sheet and institutional-grade risk controls.

Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered, emphasised the importance of digital assets in the evolution of financial services, stating, “Digital assets are a foundational element of the evolution in financial services. They’re integral to enabling new pathways for innovation, greater inclusion, and growth across the industry.”

Tony Hall, Global Head of Trading and XVA, Markets, at Standard Chartered, added, “With growing interest in regulated digital assets solutions, we are well positioned to meet client needs whilst capturing the opportunities in this space.”

This launch is part of Standard Chartered’s broader strategy to expand its digital asset capabilities, which already include custody and trading services through its ventures, Zodia Custody and Zodia Markets, and digital asset tokenisation services via Libeara.
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Developers in Singapore experienced a slowdown in sales for June 2025, with only 272 new private homes sold, marking a 12.8% decrease from May’s 312 units. This decline is attributed to limited new project launches during the school holidays. Despite the dip, sales were up 19.3% compared to June 2024, according to data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

Only two new projects were introduced in June: Arina East Residences and Amber House, both located in District 15. These projects contributed to the 187 new units launched, a significant increase from the 20 units in May. The Rest of Central Region (RCR) continued to lead sales, with 189 units sold, slightly down from 191 in May. Notable projects included One Marina Gardens and Bloomsbury Residences.

The Outside Central Region (OCR) saw a 34.9% drop in sales, with 69 units sold, the lowest in over a year. Hillock Green was the top seller in this region. In the Core Central Region (CCR), only 14 units were sold, the lowest since January 2009. High-value transactions included a $30.87 million unit at Skywaters Residences.

Executive condominiums (ECs) saw a rise in sales, with 33 units sold, up 37.5% from May. The upcoming launch of Otto Place EC is expected to boost this segment further.

Wong Siew Ying, Head of Research & Content at PropNex Realty, noted, “June was a relatively quiet month for developers’ sales, but the lull is expected to be short-lived with sales projected to pick up in July as several new launches are lined up.” Upcoming projects in July, including LyndenWoods and UpperHouse, are anticipated to revitalise the market.
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A recent survey conducted by PropNex has shed light on the current sentiment among homebuyers in Singapore, revealing that almost three-quarters of them don’t foresee a drop in property prices within the next year. With more than 1,100 people participating in the study, the results paint a picture of optimism driven by falling interest rates – about four out of ten survey-takers say they’re considering making a move due to these changes.

When it comes to where homeowners want to live, there seems to be a subtle yet significant shift taking place. A larger proportion of responders – 12%, up from just eight percent last year – prefer buying resale HDB apartments rather than waiting for public launches. That said, there doesn’t appear to be much waning enthusiasm when it comes to high-rise living; nearly nine in ten participants still covet either exclusive condominium units or executive condos, despite increased competition and prices.

Commenting on what we can reasonably expect going forward, Ismail Gafoor, who serves both as President and Chief Operating Officer at PropNex, forecasts steady gains across both residential markets. While he notes growth might happen ‘at a slower clip’, his remarks reinforce our confidence in local developers maintaining their momentum in spite of global trends.

It’s becoming increasingly evident, however, that affordability poses a major concern amongst potential homebuyers – roughly eighty percent reported having a personal ceiling set somewhere under two million dollars, hinting that many may choose smaller homes located further away from central areas if necessary to stay within budgetary limits.

One interesting side effect worth noting here though relates directly back again towards consumer behavior adaptations amid uncertain times today because even though certain key regions remain especially attractive e.g., district fifteen containing notable neighborhoods such as Katong etc.; overall individual requirements vary greatly depending largely whether one places greater emphasis upon factors like ease access routes versus purely geographical aspects per se thus giving insight deeper look consumers’ needs priorities moving ahead future plans respectively investing properties accordingly thereby creating smoother processes altogether resulting benefits all involved parties alike!

Cisco has announced the appointment of Ben Dawson as the new President for its Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China (APJC) business, effective 28 July 2025. Dawson, who has been with Cisco for over two decades, will succeed Dave West and report to Oliver Tuszik, Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Chief Sales Officer.

Dawson, currently based in Melbourne, will relocate to Cisco’s APJC headquarters in Singapore.

Dawson’s extensive career at Cisco includes leading roles across the enterprise, public sector, commercial, channels, and service provider segments in both the United States and Australia. Most recently, he served as the head of Cisco Australia & New Zealand, where he was instrumental in driving digital transformation and fostering a workplace culture recognised as the best place to work for five consecutive years.

In his new role, Dawson will focus on helping customers and partners in the APJC region seize opportunities presented by the AI era. “The confluence of AI, cybersecurity, and next-generation networking presents an extraordinary opportunity,” Dawson remarked. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and has the potential to reshape industries, economies, and societies.”

His leadership is expected to accelerate growth across the region, leveraging Cisco’s unified networking, security, and collaboration platforms.
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Sheng Siong Group has successfully opened three new supermarket outlets in Singapore, with plans to bid for additional sites following the Housing Development Board’s (HDB) announcement of two new supermarket tenders for 2026. The recent openings at Tengah Garden, Sumang Walk, and KINEX Mall mark a significant step in Sheng Siong’s expansion, with three more stores expected to open by August 2025.

The new tenders, announced on 1 July 2025, offer Sheng Siong the opportunity to bid for sites ranging from 5,400 to 9,700 square feet, aligning with the company’s typical store sizes. These sites are expected to be up for tender between March and June 2026. Sheng Siong anticipates opening 10 stores in the fiscal year 2025 and five in 2026, bolstering its market presence.

In May 2025, supermarket industry sales saw a 7% year-on-year increase, partly driven by the government’s $370 (S$500) Community Development Council (CDC) voucher disbursement. Sheng Siong’s sales growth outpaced the industry average by 4% points, aided by its unique CDC voucher strategy. Unlike competitors, Sheng Siong offered weekly discounts on selected items with a lower minimum spend requirement, encouraging repeat visits and increasing average basket sizes.

Despite potential challenges from staffing and rental costs, Sheng Siong remains optimistic about its growth prospects. The company expects operating leverage from its expanding network and strong procurement capabilities to drive a 6% earnings per share compound annual growth rate over the next two years. The company has reiterated its positive outlook, raising its target price to $1.63 (S$2.21), reflecting the robust pipeline and recent store openings.
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